Waste collecting apparatus having a ventilating device and method of operating a waste collecting system

ABSTRACT

A ventilation apparatus optimizes the ventilation of refuse receptacles. To this end, a sensor is placed inside a refuse receptacle and serves to detect fermentation gases, water vapor or the like. A sensor signal is used in turn to regulate or control a fan that withdraws gases and vapors from the refuse receptacle. A manual control of the ventilator by specifying the desired operating time is also conceivable. In addition, a nonreturn flap is provided inside the suction tube that prevents gases and vapors from flowing in the opposite direction out of a drain system and into the receptacle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of copending international application PCT/EP2004/003886, filed Apr. 13, 2004, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German patent application DE 103 17 127.4, filed Apr. 14, 2003; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a waste collecting apparatus having one or more receptacles in which waste can be collected, and a ventilating device, which is connected to the receptacle and is connectable to a waste air or waste water system, for ventilation of the receptacle(s). The present invention additionally relates to a corresponding method for collecting waste by depositing waste in a receptacle and ventilating the receptacle.

The collection of waste often gives rise to disturbing odors. In the domestic field, in particular, such odor contaminations are unacceptable. Waste collecting receptacles are therefore desirable which, particularly in the case of biological waste, suppress or eliminate the disturbing odors.

In this context, from published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 25 589 A1, receptacles are known which are equipped with active carbon or biological filters. The waste air which the receptacles give off to the environment is correspondingly filtered.

In published, non-prosecuted German patent applications DE 44 40 649 A1 and DE 197 28 670 A1, the problem of odor development is also addressed. Here it is proposed that additives are added to the waste in order to neutralize the odors.

From Japanese patent application JP 07-223703, a waste receptacle is additionally known to which an extractor fan is connected. A flexible hose connects the fan to a waste water pipe for a sink. To prevent the passage of waste air outward through the sink, a standard stench trap or siphon is fitted to the sink. A drawback with this solution is that odors can make their way from the outflow system into the waste receptacle when the fan is not switched on. Moreover, the constant running of the fan is associated with high power consumption and the development of disturbing noises.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a waste collecting device equipped with a ventilating device and a method of operating a waste collecting system which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general type.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a waste collecting apparatus having a ventilating device, which is connectable to a storage installation, especially a kitchen cupboard, in which one or more receptacles can be housed, and to a waste air or waste water system, for ventilation of the interior of the storage installation.

The object is further achieved by a waste collecting apparatus having a ventilating device, which is connectable to one or more receptacles and to a waste air or waste water system, for ventilation of the receptacle(s), the ventilating device having a valve mechanism by which a medium can be prevented from flowing into the receptacle(s) or the storage installation.

According to the present invention, moreover, a waste collecting apparatus is provided having a ventilating device, which is connectable to one or more receptacles or a storage installation, especially a kitchen cupboard, in which the receptacle(s) can be housed, and to a waste air or waste water system, for ventilation of the receptacle(s), the ventilating device having a sensor mechanism by which the ventilation of the receptacle can be controlled or regulated. A time control is also possible, which can either be preset by the operator or else takes charge of the ventilation of the receptacle(s) on an automatically preset basis.

Corresponding methods are further proposed in which the internal or external ventilation of the receptacle is controlled or regulated by a sensor mechanism, and/or the passage of a medium through the ventilating device into the receptacle is prevented by a valve mechanism.

The ventilating device preferably possesses a fan which can also be operated at intervals. It is favorable if the fan is regulated and a sensor, which detects a fermentation gas, water vapor and/or temperature, delivers a corresponding control variable.

Advantageously, the receptacle(s) possess(es) a cover to which the ventilating device is connected. Thus, when the receptacle(s) is/are pulled out of a kitchen base cupboard, the cover, inclusive of the ventilating device, can remain unmoved. A correspondingly fixed construction has advantages in terms of stability and leak-tightness. The cover must not seal tightly relative to the receptacle, i.e. a designed leakage is necessary to allow the creation of an air current over the receptacle(s).

The valve mechanism can include a nonreturn valve. With this, waste water, for example, can be prevented from making its way out of the outflow system via the ventilating device into the receptacle. Moreover, this nonreturn valve prevents gases or vapors from making their way into the receptacle from the outflow or waste air system.

The valve mechanism can be electrically or mechanically controlled so that a ventilation, for example, is performed only at certain temperatures, pressures or the like. The use of a purely spring-loaded flap valve, which in the rest state is closed and which is forced open during ventilation by the air pressure generated by the fan, is also conceivable.

The waste collecting apparatus according to the invention thus has the advantage that, when waste is deposited or the receptacle is emptied, there is substantially no odor contamination of the user. The ventilation of the receptacle(s) further has the advantage that the receptacle needs emptying and cleaning more seldom. Moreover, the waste dries out as a result of the ventilation, so that mold appears less frequently. As a result of the ventilation, the waste dries out, whereby weight is reduced as a further advantage. In general terms, hygiene can thus be improved.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a waste collecting device equipped with a ventilating device and a method of operating a waste collecting system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic, transverse sectional view through a waste collecting apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the single figure of the drawing in detail, there is shown a kitchen cupboard 1 in which a sink 2 is integrated. In the kitchen cupboard 1 there is a waste receptacle 3 filled with waste 4. The sink 2 possesses, in a known manner, an outflow 5, to which a siphon 6 is connected. The latter is connected on the other side to a waste water system 7. In a conventional manner, the siphon 6 prevents gases and vapors from making their way out of the outflow system 7 into the sink or the room.

The receptacle 3 has a lid or a cover 8. To the lid 8 there is fitted, according to the invention, a ventilation system 9. With the ventilation system 9, the waste air can be drawn off from the receptacle 3 into the outflow system 7, as is represented with the arrows 10 and 11. The ventilation system can also be disposed at a chosen location in the kitchen cupboard 1, so that, in the whole of the kitchen cupboard 1 in which the receptacle(s) 3 is/are stored, an underpressure is generated and the sucked-up air is led away via the outflow system.

The ventilation system 9 further has a fan 12 by which the waste air can be sucked actively out of the receptacle 3 or the interior of the kitchen cupboard 1. A sensor 13 detects fermentation gases, water vapor, pressure, temperature or the like. Instead of the sensor 13, an array of sensors can also be disposed in the receptacle 3 or in the kitchen cupboard 1, which can be used in the measurement or detection of a wide variety of parameters. The sensor signal serves as a control variable to control electronics of the fan 12. The fan 12 can thereby be activated if, for example, the concentration of a specific vapor or gas, or a combination thereof, exceeds a predefined threshold. Thus the fan 12 is activated only in case of need, so that a corresponding power consumption, and possibly a certain noise development, ensues only when necessary.

As a preferred configuration, however, the sensor could be dispensed with and a time control method could be used which, being manually presettable, ensures an interval operation. Where appropriate, the fan could also be permanently operated (continuous operation).

A vent pipe 14 of the ventilation system 9 emerges after the siphon 6 into the outflow system 7. This prevents the gases and vapors of the waste receptacle 3 from being able to make their way to the outflow 5 of the sink 2. However, in order also to prevent the gases and vapors of the outflow system from being able to make their way through the suction pipe 14 into the receptacle 3 or, if this is open, into the ambient air, a nonreturn valve 15 is fitted in the suction pipe 14. This additionally prevents waste water from being able to make its way via the suction pipe 14 into the receptacle 3. This penetration of waste water into the vent pipe 14 is primarily prevented by the fact that the vent pipe 14 is disposed higher than the outflow pipe into which the suction pipe 14 emerges.

As has just been portrayed, the nonreturn valve 15 is disposed between the fan 12 and the mouth of the suction pipe 14 leading into the outflow system. In principle, however, the nonreturn valve can also be disposed between the fan 12 and the receptacle 3. The nonreturn valve 15 can also be replaced by a controlled or uncontrolled valve. Such a valve could also be controlled or regulated by the sensor mechanism 13, or be controlled via a time control or by manual measures.

The ventilation system 9 is substantially rigid and, for filling or emptying purposes, the receptacle 3 is merely pulled out from beneath the cover 8. It is also conceivable, however, for the cover not to be fixedly connected to the vent pipe 14 and to be swung away from the receptacle 3 when the receptacle 3 is pulled out of the kitchen base cupboard 1.

Alternatively, however, the ventilation system 9 could also be coupled to the receptacle 3 at a location other than the cover 8. Were this coupling location to be situated close to the receptacle bottom, then this would have the advantage that toxic gases and vapors which sink downward in the receptacle 3 might also sometimes be extracted. 

1. A waste collecting apparatus, comprising: a ventilating device to be fluidically connected to a storage installation in which at least one receptacle can be housed, and further connected to a waste air/water system, for ventilation of an interior of the storage installation.
 2. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ventilating device has a valve mechanism for preventing a medium from flowing into the storage installation.
 3. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage installation is a kitchen cupboard.
 4. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ventilating device includes a fan.
 5. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fan can be operated at intervals.
 6. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said the fan can be operated in a regulated manner or manually.
 7. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor defining a control system, said sensor detecting fermentation gases, water vapor and/or temperature.
 8. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said valve mechanism includes a nonreturn valve.
 9. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said valve mechanism is movable by an air current in an electrically controllable or spring-loaded manner.
 10. A waste collecting apparatus, comprising: at least one receptacle to be disposed in a storage installation; and a ventilating device fluidically connected to said at least one receptacle and to a waste air/water system, for ventilating said at least one receptacle, said ventilating device having a valve mechanism by which a medium can be prevented from flowing into said at least one receptacle or the storage installation.
 11. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said ventilating device includes a fan.
 12. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fan can be operated at intervals.
 13. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said the fan can be operated in a regulated manner or manually.
 14. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a sensor for a control system, said sensor detects fermentation gases, water vapor and/or temperature.
 15. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said at least one receptacle has a cover to which said ventilating device is fluidically connected, a defined gap between said cover and said at least one receptacle giving rise to a designed leakage by which an air current over said at least one receptacle can be created.
 16. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said valve mechanism includes a nonreturn valve.
 17. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said valve mechanism is movable by an air current in an electrically controllable or spring-loaded manner.
 18. A waste collecting apparatus, comprising: at least one receptacle to be disposed in a storage installation; and a ventilating device fluidically connected to said at least one receptacle or the storage installation, and further connected to a waste air/water system, for ventilating said at least one receptacle, said ventilating device having at least one of a sensor mechanism and a time control mechanism, by which the ventilating of said at least one receptacle can be controlled or regulated.
 19. The waste connecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ventilating can be regulated manually.
 20. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said ventilating device includes a fan.
 21. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a fermentation gas, water vapor and/or temperature is detectable with said sensor mechanism.
 22. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said at least one receptacle has a cover to which said ventilating device is fluidically connected.
 23. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said ventilating device has a valve mechanism by which a medium can be prevented from flowing into said at least one receptacle.
 24. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said valve mechanism includes a nonreturn valve.
 25. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said valve mechanism is electrically controllable.
 26. The waste collecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the storage installation is a kitchen cupboard.
 27. A method for collecting waste, which comprises the steps of: depositing the waste into at least one receptacle; ventilating the at least one receptacle; controlling or regulating the ventilating of the receptacle being performed internally or externally, under control or regulation using a sensor mechanism.
 28. The method for collecting waste according to claim 27, which further comprises performing the ventilating on a time-controlled basis.
 29. A method for collecting waste, which comprises the steps of: depositing the waste into at least one receptacle; ventilating the at least one receptacle with a ventilating device; performing the ventilating of the receptacle internally or externally; and preventing a passage of a medium through the ventilating device into the at least one receptacle using a valve mechanism. 